Something truly special is nestled in the heart Chicago theater this summer. Though it is labeled as a revival, The Goodman’s newest production of “Brigadoon” under the direction and choreography of Rachel Rockwell, is something much greater and more magnificent that the word entails. Through its stunning music, impressive acting, magical choreography and all around precise craftsmanship, the show achieves an unparalleled level of depth and heart. The production is beautiful to its very core.
“Brigadoon” chronicles the journey of two young American men, Tommy (Kevin Earley) and Jeff (Rod Thomas), as they venture into Scotland before Tommy is married to a wealthy woman back in the States. Though the wedding will provide him with monetary prosperity, Tommy is still hugely unsatisfied and feels as though he is lacking something enormous in his life. When the two men stumble upon the mythical town of Brigadoon that only exists for one day every one hundred years, their worlds are flipped completely. It is here that Tommy meets and falls in love with the beautiful Fiona (Jennie Sophia). As Tommy wrestles with the decision to remain inside of the magical town, he learns more about himself and the world around him than he ever could have imagined.
Visually, “Brigadoon” is a simple and delicious feast. Its set design is precise, though it strays from the kind of grandeur that can often be distracting from the content of a production. Instead, the stage at the Albert this summer serves as a medium through which we can watch a collection of resonant characters find themselves and each other.
The dance and choreography in this summer’s show is an equally incredible facet of the performance’s whole. There are a large number of lengthy dance numbers and while this possesses the potential to borderline on self-indulgent, ‘Brigadoon’ masters it with an unparalleled level of grace. Ballet, traditional dance, and large choreographed numbers appear as organically as the dialogue does within the show. Dance is, perhaps, integrated so seamlessly because Rockwell is responsible for both the direction and the choreography of the production. The dance within it is endlessly entertaining, wonderfully emotional, and always necessary.
The cast is large and magnificent, though there are several standout performances within it. Jennie Sophia is glorious as the lead role of Fiona. Her effervescence is both tragic and joyful; her entire performance is characterized by a light that seems to radiate from her at each and every moment.
Kevin Earley is similarly wonderful as he takes on the other lead role of Tommy. While his acting is clean and impressive, his incredible voice adds a whole new level of finesse to the entire performance. Sophia and Earley’s rendition of the famous “Almost Like Being in Love” is superb and garnered what seemed like minutes of applause.
This summer marks an exciting time for Lerner and Loewe’s “Brigadoon”. This production is the first major revival of it in many, many years. While the reemergence of it is exhilarating, the production never hides behind the buzz of its return. Instead, it stands on its own as something that lingers in the realm between new and old, transporting us to another time and place completely. It is honest, it is magical, and it is not to be missed.
